Let us talk about what is a “Step Test” is. We want to find out what are our exposure time is, so that we always know every time we walk up to the screen that it to work.
The first time you shoot screens, you are going to try this test. That same screen that you coded and you set some film, on a piece of art, make sure the art goes all the way across the screen—makes this a little easier. What we want us to have multiple exposure times on one screen.
For this step test, we are going to start by shooting 15 seconds. We are going to start the thing. And at the end of 15 seconds we are going to turn in the entire unit off.
Now, we are going to add in something that will block the light for part of this unit. And, we are going to turn the unit on for another 15 seconds. And at the end of that 15 seconds, I am just going to slide the paper and I am not going to touch the light. So now I am going to shoot another 15 seconds.
When I get done with this process, I will have multiple exposure times across the screen. In that way, I only have to shoot one and I know which one turned out. When I know that, write it down, everything will always be the same.
When I am done with my final exposure, turn the unit off. When you get done with the step test you are going to have four exposure times on the screen. And it helps to write it on the screens to remember what you did. This one should be one minute, this pirouette here should be 45 seconds, this one about here would be 30 seconds and this should be 15 seconds or wherever you start it from you may decide that your exposure time is need to be as long as three minutes. Adjust these times as you go.
Now when you go to wash out the screen and you have these different sections to be mash. One part of the mash will washout great, one part of the mash will be slimy—you rub your finger on it, it will come off in your hand. And in one part you really have to blast it with water to get the image out. That is why you want your image to go all the way from edge to edge. The part that washes out great keep record what that time was and that is what your shot will always be.
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